NCHS Newsletter
March 2020
Important Dates
March 5th Jostens senior delivery
March 12th-14th High school musical
March 26th end of third quarter
March 27th no school for students
March 28th Bible Teachers Association Car Show
March is Music in Our Schools Month
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation.
The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. Help us celebrate and recognize our Chorus and Band Programs here at Northwest. Here’s what’s been happening this semester.. Take time to support your music programs here at Northwest. There are great things going on.
Class Band:
March 16: Pre-MPA Performance
March 23: Spring Concert Performance
May 21: End of the Year Performance
June 13: Graduation Performance
Chorus:
March 3: Pre-MPA Performance
March 26: MPA Performance
May 19: Spring Concert Performance
June 13: Graduation Performance
Music is an important part of all our lives. The TriM Music Honor Society, which includes members from both band and chorus, surveyed our teachers and staff to find out what songs have made the greatest impact on their own lives. Here’s just a few of those responses. More are posted around the cafeteria.
You Are My Sunshine- this was the song I sang to my daughter as a newborn.
Graves into Gardens by Elevation Worship This song helped pull me out of a very difficult situation when my family suffered a loss. It gave me inspiration to move on and appreciate the things going well in my life, and hold on to them with passion & a drive to grow in those areas. It also gave me an emotional opportunity to grieve instead of bottling it inside. It is a truly uplifting song.
"Hold On" by Wilson Phillips My mom and I used to sing this song at the top of our lungs in the car or at home when it would come on over the radio. My dad left us when I was 9, and it was a song that just stuck with us and for some reason had meaning to us. Even nowwhenever we hear this song, we will call each other up and play it on the phone for one another and sing. Even though the song developed from something bad, the song helped us and turned something bad into a great memory that we still share today.
I currently love "Murder in the City" by the Avett Brothers. The lyrics just make me think about what is important in life. "Make sure my sister knows I loved her. Make sure my mother knows the same. Always remember, there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name. Always remember, there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name." This is the part that really gets me! As they have been singing this song for a while...the list changes to wife and children. It just really speaks to me! And then there is "For the Beauty of the Earth"...another one that will always be a favorite! We sang that at our wedding! I had to do two, one is completely impossible!
Have you met your child’s Spanish teacher? If not, here are a few words from each of us!
From the desk of Sra. Dean: I can honestly say that I am thrilled to be able to work with your children this year and their fun personalities make my day anything but dull! Here are just a few tips to be sure that your child is doing everything they can to be successful in my class:
- In the Spanish department, we do our best to incorporate technology in our lessons as much as possible. One of the sites that we all use is www.conjuguemos.com because it really requires the students to practice grammar and vocabulary skills that they learn in class. If your child gets behind on conjuguemos in my class, they can always make those assignments up for FULL credit. If they have a zero for a conjuguemos assignment, all they need to do is send me an email (laura.dean@cabarrus.k12.nc.us) to let me know that they have completed the assignment, and I will replace the zero with the grade they earned. Each quarter there is a hard deadline for those assignments so that I have time to enter all grades into PowerSchool before the end of the marking period. The deadline for 3rd quarter is March 15th.
- -Illness, college visits, field trips, and mental health days can add up to a lot of absences very quickly! I post a quick agenda with assignments DAILY on the calendar on my website, so students can catch up at home ASAP. If your child must miss class for any reason, they can go to the calendar on my website and view the daily agenda. Frequently, we have an online assignment (Google classroom, Quizlet, or Conjuguemos) that can be done at home to avoid falling to far behind.
- I also post quiz topics so that students can see what will be on the next test to better guide them when studying. Click the following link for access to my calendar: https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/Page/26775#calendar40824/20200221/month
- From the desk of Profesora Miranda: What a wonderful start to second semester we have had in our classroom! I am enjoying teaching your students, and I look forward to seeing them grow in confidence in their use of the language. Here are a few things I would like to share with you about our classroom:
- Google Classroom is the first place students should look to find resources, useful links and classroom assignments.
- If your student misses a due date, they have an additional week to submit their work without penalty, after that they will be given a zero for the assignment.
- It is important to spend 15-20 minutes each day practicing the language! Your student can study their vocabulary words and grammar notes, create flashcards on www.quizlet.com, and play games or learn at their own pace using www.duolingo.com.
- Please do not hesitate to contact me for any reason: bonnie.miranda@cabarrus.k12.nc.us
From the desk of Sra. Leonardo: It has been an AMAZING 5 weeks with your child, and I am very excited to be part of your child’s learning experience. Learning a new language requires lots of practice and discipline. That’s why it is imperative that your child study every day for at least 20 minutes. Every week students get an assessment; it is mainly on the vocabulary learned that week. In addition to vocabulary, grammar is also included. Students are also tested on their speaking skills. My goal for the end of this semester is that every student can have a full conversation in Spanish on any given topic covered in class.
- Some of the resources that your child can use to practice are quizlet and google classroom. My username for quizlet is lorymar23. The icon is a white polar bear. I also use Remind to keep students updated on any assignment or test. Join Remind at 81010, text message @289kkd. We also use the website conjuguemos.com to practice the vocabulary. If your child doesn’t finish conjuguemos in class, he/she can always finish it at home. He/she can use a computer, tablet, or cell phone to complete the assignment. I look forward to a successful school year!
- If you have any questions, I can be reached at rocio.leonardo@cabarrus.k12.nc.us, and 704-260-6720 Ex 45201
From the desk of Sr. Watson: We have had a terrific start to the second semester in Spanish I and Spanish II. Please encourage your child to complete work on time and to ask questions when they do not understand something. I expect my students to try to improve their language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students have time in class to complete all assignments for my class. They may work on assignments outside of class, but the only assigned homework should involve real world application of the language. Students receive assessments on vocabulary and grammar topics covered in class.
- I provide tools that should help them stay organized and practice the topics we cover in class.
- Our class uses Google Classroom to organize student assignments and resources. Please encourage your child to review our classroom and make sure they have turned in all assignments. You will see a “1” in PowerSchool if they have not turned in an assignment on time. I will periodically grade late work and update those grades. I want your child to have success in my classroom, and I will work with them and assist them as they progress in the language. I appreciate all the support you give!
- Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns at joseph.watson@cabarrus.k12.nc.us.
February STAR Students
Emma Mannisto
Akshar Patel
Grant William
Sarah Newman